Irish activists take note!

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday April 18, 2002 18:32 by old cause new cause

don't forget the ongoing Northern struggle

Whilst much needed attention and resources have been dedicated to global issues of poverty, democracy et al., I find it distressing that we seem to forget the the North Eastern Region of our country is occupied by the world's no.2 colonial power and people there are subject to daily intimidation, harrassment and occupatioN. Lest not forget. SOLIDARITY!

FROM RTE WEBSITE

Police in the North have arrested several people over violent protests at army watchtowers in south Armagh last December.

Several people were arrested early this morning over the violence at watchtowers in Creevekeeran and Drumuckaval near Crossmaglen, a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokeswoman said.

Twenty-two police officers, three British soldiers and a number of civilians were injured after over 100 protesters clashed with security forces at three security bases in the Crossmaglen area on December 9th.

The clashes began at a demilitarisation protest outside an army watchtower at Creevekeeran that was organised by the youth wing of Sinn Féin. Some protesters tried break through the fencing around the watchtower.

The protesters then moved to the nearby Drumuckaval watchtower and again tried to enter the watchtower grounds. The demonstrators went on to the police and army barracks at Crossmaglen, where they broke through the outer gate and threw petrol bombs at the station.

At the time police said the violence had "clearly been orchestrated", but Sinn Féin said those involved in the violence were not from south Armagh.